merlin

Yep. I certainly thought so. Thanks!

I have been enlisted to shoot a conference-type event, also including small groups, which will be under artificial (not fluorescent) light, and no flash. Will the X30 work for this? I have only used mine for outdoor photography, with a max. ISO of 800. I will probably need a minimum SS of 1/150, or even 1/180, so can I boost the ISO to 1600, or even 3200, without getting lots of noise?

No problem with Fuji raw files. Just get a decent converter. If you are on Windows, Photo Ninja is excellent. There are also a number of cross-platform FOSS options such as LightZone, RawTherapee, and darktable. I am no fan of Adobe products, but LightRoom seems to work well for many folks.

Another exciting adventure on the river today. Definitely autumn, with the morning chill necessitating warmer clothing. But the sun warmed things up after a bit, and although there were no headwinds, the current was still quite strong in various places. The trip back was a different story, as wind gusts up to 25 knots made paddling very challenging. Waves broke over the bow, and the kayaks were blown sideways at times. The adrenalin rush was helpful, and we made it back safely. Sightings included Canada geese, Ospreys, and a large flock of Blue-winged teal in addition to herons, ravens and turkey vultures. And as always, the stillness, solitude, and deep connections with nature and spirit were inspiring and uplifting. These are photos of the rock cliffs at Cochiti Canyon, where we stopped for lunch. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

The Kittens

The day started in idyllic fashion, with the lake and river like a sheet of glass. Before long, though, fierce headwinds kicked up, and we were paddling furiously in order to make any headway, especially with strong current near most of the river bends. But we persevered, and made it to Medio Canyon. By that time the winds had abated, and we floated downstream for lunch and a short hike at Cochiti Canyon. The towering cliffs and deep blue skies were awe-inspiring, as were the stillness and solitude. What a marvelous place to connect with nature, spirit, and oneself! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Another wonderful adventure on the Rio Grande. Almost no wind when we set out — most unusual — and it made for easy navigating amongst the mostly below-water mudflats. But the wind picked up after a time, and with the still strong current, making headway was often a challenge. But we got upstream to just past Medio Canyon (6 miles or so), and floated down river for lunch at Cochiti Canyon. The rock formation and wildflowers were most inspiring, evocative of the power of nature and Earth. Sightings included a merganser and other ducks, Great Blue herons, two Snowy egrets, and the usual Spotted sandpipers, Ravens, Turkey vultures, and Black phoebes. But best of all was a huge elk with gigantic antlers crossing the road just in front of us whilst on our way to the boat ramp! Wow, was that exciting! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

A veritable bird-fest!

These are a few more photographs from Saturday's hike with the X-T2 and 90mm f/2 lens. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.